Fairfax 50+ Action Plan Released at Board of Supervisors Meeting

Chairman Gerald E. Connolly and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
released an action plan today in anticipation of the “silver tsunami,” a
demographic shift that is projected to result in a 32 percent increase in
adults ages 50+ in Fairfax County by 2020.

“Anticipating the Future: Fairfax 50+ Action Plan
2007” is the first product of the board’s focus on the opportunities
and challenges of this demographic shift; a shift that will affect
programs and services countywide. The board began this project in January
2006 with the formation of the Committee on Aging, the first new board
committee in more than a decade. Issues tackled by the committee to date,
with the aid of experts in each field, include the critical and
interdependent issues of housing, community planning, care giving,
health, mental health, transportation, technology and diversity.

“Our older adults are increasingly choosing to keep Fairfax County as
their home. By acting now, we’ll ensure that the county remains aging
friendly,” said Connolly.

The Fairfax 50+ Action Plan is not a report on the actions taken but the
actions to be taken to ensure the needs and talents of those 50+ are
included in the future of the community. It is organized into 11 focus
areas and is a starting point for moving toward a more aging-friendly
Fairfax County. The focus areas will become a score card for the
community to use in the future:

Are we engaging older adults with a wealth of talents and skills as
employees, entrepreneurs, volunteers and community activists?

Are we supporting caregivers?

Are we using advances in technology that will allow older adults
greater independence?

Are we creating and revitalizing Fairfax County to enable independence
and are we including design elements of a livable community for all
ages?

Are we providing housing options that meet the needs of every age and
are easily adaptable?

Are we addressing the affordability of housing, programs and services
to a segment of the population that is likely to have limited
resources?

Are we ensuring independence through transportation planning that
includes a range of options for older adults?

Are we building on the diversity of our population to enhance the
cultural richness of our community and services?

Are we ensuring that our health care and mental health care systems
keep pace with the aging of our population?

Are we enhancing the personal safety and security of our older adults
through emergency preparedness and consumer education?

Are we planning appropriately in the community for an increased demand
for older adult services?

This action plan outlines the work that must be done to answer these
questions. It marks a shift in how the county plans, so that when policy
decisions are made the questions asked include: “What is the impact on
older adults? What opportunities does this new policy provide?”

“Today’s older adults have a history of giving back to our community. We
must ensure that every opportunity is in place for the boomers to follow
their lead,” said Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman, chair of the
board’s Committee on Aging.

In releasing Fairfax 50+ Action Plan, the Board of Supervisors is
setting the agenda for the future and focusing the communitywide
discussion that will continue as Fairfax County prepares for this
demographic shift. A survey of thousands of communities in September 2006
found that the majority of local governments had not begun planning for
the inevitable demographic shift (“The Maturing of America – Getting
Communities on Track for an Aging Population” by the International
City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties,
National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities). Fairfax
County is unique because its planning has taken place hands-on at the
highest level – the elected official level – and builds on the solid
comprehensive demographic study “Anticipating the Future – A Discussion
of Trends in Fairfax County (2006)” initiated by the Board of Supervisors
in May 2004.

The work of the board’s Committee on Aging and this action plan have
begun to take hold within county government as departments begin to
integrate aging-friendly policy into future plans. “Since so much of our
work force is part of this demographic sea change, they have embraced the
chance to make needed changes and set a high standard for other levels of
government to follow,” said Connolly.

More than 60 initiatives are planned, including flexible, meaningful
volunteer opportunities, health promotion activities, development of
respite options for caregivers, increased education about subprime
lending targeted to older adults and staff training on identifying elder
abuse.

Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of
disability in all county programs, services and activities. To request
this information in an alternate format, call the Office of Public
Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.